boom traveller / main sheet hang ups

[romei]

Last year was my first year with my 16.  When the boom swings from one side to the other, if I have a lot of slack in it, the lines get tangled up on the rear cleats,  and this year, the transom ladder (now that I mounted one) .

Is this just my inexperience of leaving too much slack in the traveller or is it a common problem?  I try not to let it swing too far from side to side but sometimes it happens before I can reel in the main sheet.

[Potcake boy]

Romei,

My experience is that lines are effectionate creatures and will wrap themselves around anything they can reach.  Just try putting a cleat on the front of your mast, or leave the forward hatch open while tacking.  My sheet is mounted mid boom and the traveler is on the bridgedeck, so there isn't much to foul it. You can always grab the fall and "steer" it across when tacking or sheet in before.  Haven't you ever noticed that those lines lying on the cockpit sole are like the evil vines from a bad horror flick that wrap themselves around your ankles?  The only things that I know that tangle worse than rope is - yes you guessed it BUNGEEEEEES.

Enjoy - Ron